Nightfall had descended on Block 1, where lights had begun to flicker unlike the darkness still shrouding Blast 2. The street was filled with all sorts of pleasures, as those seeking to indulge in alcohol and women spilled over. The occasional high-end carriage stood parked, with extravagantly-dressed rich folks making their presence known. The reason for their coming here was plain: they could have their way with women as they pleased, without fear of being exposed to their acquaintances.

Laila parked her cart in front of the largest and brightest building, Red Moon, known for housing the most beautiful women and liquor on the Blast Street. Though she had been there several times before, she still trembled and felt a sense of shame each time she came. If there were levels to this world, then this place was the bottom rung—a place of poverty, deceit, violence, and hedonism. Since Stella had aggressively reached out to her earlier, she had come to detest this place even more.

After making a few trips, Laila transferred the fish from her cart to the kitchen of the tavern.

"Madam, can I see Milena today? I need to make some money."

"Milena is busy right now. Julia has been caught."

Laila asked the kitchen woman.

"When did that happen?"

"Early this morning. She managed to evade the police for a day, but she couldn't avoid getting caught forever."

The woman's words held no weight, for things like this happened every day.

Laila's shoulders slumped as her energy drained away.

Julia had been brought here several months ago by her older brother, who owed gambling debts. She had to deal with not only customers but also with thieves who came every night. It was difficult to adapt to this lifestyle, but when the thieves started harassing her, she couldn't take it anymore and ran away. Laila had sensed that something like this would happen since she heard about Julia's situation. But she had hoped that Julia would not get caught. It seemed like her hope was in vain. Laila felt her hope breaking down.

"Even so, if you need to make money, you should go up and see if anyone wants a room. You know where they are, right?"

"Yes."

Laila glanced down the hallway as she responded. Although she contemplated simply leaving, she knew that if she didn't collect the owed money, Delma's iron grip would come crashing down on her. Laila swiftly resolved to retrieve the funds and return.

Ascending to the second floor, Laila walked along the corridor. At the end of the hallway was Milena's room, where the reddish hue of the curtains replaced the stolen silverware. Every encounter with Milena left Laila infuriated. The woman's merciless treatment of others and her stinginess with money sent shivers down Laila's spine whenever she condescendingly scanned her from head to toe with an eerie smile.

As Laila stood before Milena's door, she noticed it was slightly ajar. Despite raising her hand to knock, she froze at the glimpse of the scene inside.

Gasping, Laila instinctively covered her mouth with both hands.

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A woman sat on her knees, her hands tied behind her back. Her disheveled hair sprawled wildly, and her torn undergarments barely covered her intimate parts, exposing the bruises that marred her arms, back, buttocks, and legs. The marks were evidence of a severe beating.

Laila recognized the woman as Julia, the one who had been captured.

"Well, well. Why did you have to engage in such unbearable acts and end up in this state? Hm?" Laila asked in shock.

Julia was not alone. Madame Milena sat in an armchair a few steps away, wearing a dress that barely concealed her bosom and with her fiery red hair piled high. After mocking Julia, she took a puff of her pipe, exhaling a graceful plume of white smoke into the air.

There was one more presence. A man, previously unseen, walked steadily towards Julia and stood before her in silence. He possessed a tall, lanky frame, with a haggard physique and torn eyes beneath his dark gray hair.

Stear Leiken, the lawless wanderer of Blast Street.

His trousers were already undone, evidence of his prior deeds. Stear reached into his pants and extracted something substantial, gripping Julia's hair near her forehead with one hand.

"Ah, how wicked," he hissed.

Julia's moan of pain escaped through clenched teeth.

"Open your mouth," said Stear in a deep, gruff voice. As soon as the words fell, Julia trembled and parted her lips, while Milena, with an air of nonchalance, merely continued to puff on her cigarette.

Without delay, something solid pushed its way into Julia's mouth. With one hand outstretched and the other gripping her hair, he began to move his hips.

Thrust, thrust. Despite Julia's strained moans in response to Stear’s unbridled movements, he paid no heed. In fact, her cries seemed to further fuel his excitement, as if they were an explosive catalyst, prompting him to thrust even harder. The sound of saliva gurgling and slobbering was deafening. It was a filthy and cruel sight.

Frozen, Laila felt a strange gaze upon her and averted her eyes. Milena had been watching her all along. Without a word, she took a deep drag on her cigarette and exhaled smoke with a satisfied smile.

Laila shuddered from head to toe and took a step back. Just as she was about to turn away, another shock struck her.

"Haah, Laila."

At the sound of Stear's voice calling her name, Laila's footsteps froze in their tracks. It was only now that she remembered why Julia's name had been on people's lips since the day she arrived here. It was because Julia looked so similar to Laila.

With each step she retreated, Laila swiftly turned around. Unlike when she arrived, her steps grew faster and faster. Eventually, she sprinted down the corridor, rushing down the stairs. It felt as though Milena and Stear's hands were reaching out from behind, ready to grab her by the hair.

The path and the stairs were barely visible. Relying solely on instinct, she careened down without a second thought, but in the end, she missed a step.

"Oops."

Seizing the opportunity of an unsteady landing, the upper body leaned forward before the feet could touch the ground. Suspended in mid-air, on the brink of a great fall, Laia was suddenly embraced by a firm pair of arms, pulling her securely into their hold. In an instant, she found herself entwined with a stranger, her hands tightly gripping his neck.

She felt as though she had lived swiftly, and in that fleeting moment, she encountered a distinct fragrance. Without a chance for another thought to surface, her body descended, and her feet met the stairs.

"Th-thank you," she uttered.

Returning to reality, Laila bowed her head in gratitude. Though she could see his black coat and pants, she couldn't bring herself to face him properly. She didn't even realize the fact that she was embracing another man for the first time. After all, he was just one among the many who came to embrace women.

Everyone inside the Red Moon was detestable.

Swiftly withdrawing herself from the man's embrace, Laila began to descend the stairs.